Book

320 pages

Over 70 rare photos, many never published before

Nine detailed maps

 

 

 

 

 

 

“‘Shanghai 1937’ has all the elements of a fabulous historical novel… Comparisons by online reviewers to Antony Beevor, author of ‘Stalingrad’ and ‘Berlin,’ are justly deserved… One of the really remarkable features of “Shanghai 1937″ is the huge collection of high-quality photographs, all of them in-period and directly relevant to the action, in three 16-page inserts.”

TAIWAN TODAY, July 2013

“…enhances the bare facts with material gleaned from multiple diaries, reports, newspaper and magazine articles, books, and other accounts from combatants and civilians of all nationalities. In addition to on-the-spot impressions from a surprising number of Chinese and Japanese foot soldiers, the book also features eyewitness reports from and about foreigners living and working in the cosmopolitan city at the time. As the author notes, the battle of Shanghai was front page news throughout much of the world, and numbers of journalists from around the globe covered the fighting from both sides of the line while crossing in and out of the safety and comfort of the international concessions. Besides using many contemporary documents as sources, Harmsen has chosen to illustrate the book with an especially noteworthy selection of very striking wartime photographs. …engaging account of a little-known battle. …practically nothing else in English tackles this topic at this level.”

STONE AND STONE, July 2013

“I have to say that I was really impressed with this book.  Mr Harmsen is an excellent writer.  The book rattles along like a modern techno-thriller and moves gracefully between descriptions of the tactical battlefield and the impact on the company, platoon or individual to the strategic machinations of the “top brass” and the movement of armies and divisions.  Whilst the book piqued my interest in the pre Second World War Sino-Japanese conflict it stands very successfully as an excellent piece of military writing in its own right.  One only has to be interested in warfare to appreciate this book… For military historians it is an interesting insight into the development of the tactical use of military technology in the lead up to the Second World War.  And, finally, it is damn good read!”

THE WARGAMER, July 2013

 

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